Craving your favourite restaurant or café meal during lockdown? No need – just order takeaway or home delivery. By Julie Miller
The Blue Mountains may be in what feels like interminable lockdown, but that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate a special occasion in style. The Instagram feed of the Mountains’ newest fine dining restaurant, Arrana at Springwood, shows happy customers discarding their sweatpants and perfecting their plating skills as they enjoy ‘Arana at Home’, a four-course degustation meal for two, delivered to their front door.
“It’s awesome - in the restaurant we love to see people dressing up; we can see that it’s bringing some happiness to people in this time,” says restaurant maître de Leisa Cabban. “We want to keep it fun, and keep people inspired.”
Arrana is just one of several Blue Mountains restaurants that have pivoted in challenging times to offer takeaway or a home delivery service. The point of difference for Arrana is that it they are offering the fine dining experience they’re renown for at an affordable price, without compromising quality.
“We tossed up the idea of starting with lasagnes, pastas and burgers, but we thought let’s stay true to what we’re doing in the restaurant - let’s give a four-course degustation-style dinner and see how that works,” Leisa explains. “It seems to have taken off, because it’s something different.
“Initially, it was 80 percent of regulars that were ordering from us; now it’s 80 percent of people who have never been to the restaurant. I think it’s a combination of social media and word of mouth – neighbours and family talking to each other. We all know the power of word of mouth in the Mountains!”
The four-course ‘Arrana at Home’ experience is available for $100 for two. Home delivery from Lapstone to Faulconbridge is an extra $5, or $10 for those in the Upper Mountains. Available Wednesday to Saturday – book early to avoid missing out!
9-12/125 Macquarie Rd, Springwood.
T: 02 4751 5159 E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
If you want a night off from cooking, here are some other great options for takeaway or home delivery:
Pizza Sublime
187A Leura Mall, Leura.
T: 0481 736 899; www.pizzasublime.com.au
An offshoot of the popular Leura Garage, Pizza Sublime offers “grab and go” pizza by the rectangular slice from their Leura Mall shopfront, made in authentic ‘in pala Romana’ style with a light, crisp and easy to digest base and finished with delicious artisan toppings. Pre-ordered takeaways for half-board and full-board orders is also now offered, with home delivery available for an extra $10 to Upper Mountains addresses ($35 minimum order).
Bootlegger Bar
92 Bathurst Rd, Katoomba.
T: (02) 4782 6368 W: www.bootleggerbar.com.au
Craving your fix of ‘low and slow’ comfort food during lockdown? Bootlegger Bar’s mouthwatering Southern-inspired menu is now available for takeaway, including pulled pork and slaw, ribs, burgers loaded with the lot, and the newest addition to the menu - American and Mexican-style hotdogs. Team your hearty meal with a bevvy of choice, including Bootleggers famous cocktails for a fun, “still feel like you’re going out” experience! The Bar is open for lunch and dinner, with delivery available.
Blackheath General Store
249 Great Western Highway, Blackheath
T: (02) 4787 5082 W: www.blackheathgeneralstore.com.au
Nutritious, wholesome meals made in-house from fresh ingredients and homemade stock is now available for takeaway from Blackheath General Store. The menu includes warming soups, Hungarian paprika chicken, a Moroccan sweet potato bake, Sri Lankan-style curries and a slow-cooked osso bucco. Owner Belinda Normal is no stranger to quality local produce, having started the Little Food Co-op in 2004, and her passion for sustainability is reflected in her pre-prepared dinners.
8Things Food Truck
Brew Mountains Brewery
Unit 3/2-4 Tayler Rd, Valley Heights
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; W: 8things.com.au
Popular Katoomba restaurant 8Things has done the ultimate pivot during lockdown, and is using its food trailer to bring its global street food menu to customers in the Lower Mountains. Once a month, they are partnering with Brew Mountain Brewery, offering locals the opportunity to pick up and takeaway a fresh cold beer and hot meal in one location. They hope to be able to bring the trailer to other sites in the future. With the support of their regular suppliers, 8Thing is also donation meals to Food Solutions who are providing much-needed food hampers to around 80 households a week. Look out for the food truck at Brew Mountain Brewery on September 17 and 18.
Mountain High Pies
293 Great Western Highway, Wentworth Falls
T: (02) 4757 3737 W: www.mountainhighpies.com.au
The Blue Mountains’ most legendary pie shop since 2006, Mountain High Pies remains open during lockdown, trading at normal hours from 6am to 5pm seven days a week. Pies and coffee are available takeaway only, with two-thirds of the normal menu available to offer plenty of choice. All pies are made from scratch in-store, with traditional flavours as well as vegetarian and gluten free options. For a hearty start to the day, don’t miss the Big Breakfast pie – it’s simply gobsmacking!
The Bunker Café Bar
150 Macquarie Rd, Springwood
T: (02) 4751 6615 W: www.thebunkercafebarrestaurant.com.au
While its sister property at Leura has closed during the lockdown, you can still get your Bunker fix at the Springwood venue, which is offering an adjusted pick-up menu for breaky, lunch and dinner. Its ‘To Share’ menu featuring meal packs feeding up to three people is available from 5pm, with free delivery between Glenbrook and Katoomba. You can even order your favourite cocktails or wine packs for your very own lockdown happy hour! Look out for daily specials on the Bunker social channels.
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